Ball Joint Question
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Ball Joint Question
Hey, anybody out there had any ball joint problems with your Superduty? I have an 01 4wd with 47k on it and the upper ball joint on the left side is giving up. I do a little off roading but nothing too crazy. Bottom line is I assume I should replace upper and lower on both sides rather than just replace the one with obvious problems. Any advice is appreciated.
MJC
MJC
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,496
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
Fairly common problem, though usually you get a few more miles out of them.
Due to your relatively low miles, I'd just do the one bad side, upper and lower. It's a fairly expensive and time consuming fix, so for my money, I'd wait to see some problems on the good side before I went ahead.
Waxy
Due to your relatively low miles, I'd just do the one bad side, upper and lower. It's a fairly expensive and time consuming fix, so for my money, I'd wait to see some problems on the good side before I went ahead.
Waxy
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Meriden Ct
MClark77
I am going through this same problem right now (01 4wd F350 62k miles)
All four ball joints toast and drivers side hub. I changed the hub tonight. I have got all the ball joints and the hub but I have not received the ball joint press yet and I wanted to get the truck back on the road. I will do the ball joints and the pass side hub this weekend. I am changing both hubs as I believe if one fails then the other is not far behind. The next weekend I will do drivers side ball joints.
I think you should change both on that one side as you have it apart already. The hub was no sweat. 1 1/2 hours at best.
Anyone who replaces A hub, make sure you you get new studs, and nuts, as getting the old studs out was A pain. If I had gotten new studs I would have been done in an hour.
I posted A thread titled "ball joints and hub" and someone replyed with step by step on changing the ball joints. Very helpful article. I went and bought a repair manual and the reply that was posted was better than the book.
Good luck with the project and I hope you only need to do one side.
I am going through this same problem right now (01 4wd F350 62k miles)
All four ball joints toast and drivers side hub. I changed the hub tonight. I have got all the ball joints and the hub but I have not received the ball joint press yet and I wanted to get the truck back on the road. I will do the ball joints and the pass side hub this weekend. I am changing both hubs as I believe if one fails then the other is not far behind. The next weekend I will do drivers side ball joints.
I think you should change both on that one side as you have it apart already. The hub was no sweat. 1 1/2 hours at best.
Anyone who replaces A hub, make sure you you get new studs, and nuts, as getting the old studs out was A pain. If I had gotten new studs I would have been done in an hour.
I posted A thread titled "ball joints and hub" and someone replyed with step by step on changing the ball joints. Very helpful article. I went and bought a repair manual and the reply that was posted was better than the book.
Good luck with the project and I hope you only need to do one side.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: midlothian
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Scranton, PA
If your doing it yourself I would replace all four with greaseable ones. If the left side went its only a matter of time before the right side goes. Especially if you take it off-road. And you will get them all done in one shot. Thats just my opinion.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Ugh, I think I'm in the same boat! Just started today, LOUD popping & creaking coming from left front wheel area. Only happens when turning or breaking. I did a LOT of deep water crossings this last weekend with all the rain we had, I think I finally did my ball joints & bearings in for good!
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Platte City USA
I just had mine replaced yesterday at 12K. I took it in just before I rolled 12K to have an alignment check under warranty. The tech took it on a test drive and said it was possibly binding, hard to steer and not recentering as it should. All that was news to me. But, at no cost, they replaced all 4 ball joints the same day and adjusted the steering mesh. They refered to TSB 01-3-2 for the problem. At least that's what it says on my invoice. Even though I didn't recognize the problem before, it does steer much easier now. So I guess it is a common problem.